FOODS POISONING

How can food poisoning be prevented?

Following these rules can prevent most food poisoning cases:

• Wash your hands! Wash them before, during and after food preparation. Use soap and warm water and wash for 20 seconds. Wash after touching raw meat, fish or poultry. Wash your hands after every trip to the bathroom. Washing is the most important thing you can do to prevent food poisoning.

• Use hot, soapy water to wash cutting boards, utensils and anything else that was used to prepare food.

• Use a diluted bleach solution to clean cutting boards and countertops after food preparation.

  To clean kitchen sponges and dishcloths, rinse them in water, squeeze out the excess water and microwave at full power for 60 seconds. Be careful in removing hot items from microwave so you don't burn yourself.

• After handling raw meat, fish or poultry, do not reuse the same utensil or plate. Bacteria from the raw juices will contaminate other food.

• Do not use a sponge or dishcloth to clean surfaces that have touched raw meat, fish or poultry. Use soap, water and a disposable paper towel.

• Wash all fruits and vegetables well before eating.

• Cook all food thoroughly.

• Taste food only when it is thoroughly cooked. Use a clean spoon each time.

• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. If food is allowed to remain at room temperature for two hours or longer, bacteria can multiply and cause food poisoning.

• Refrigerate all leftovers soon after meals.

• Hot food does not have to be cooled before placing it in the refrigerator.

• After shopping, refrigerate frozen food as soon as possible. If thawed, use immediately. Do not refreeze.

• Defrost meats and poultry in the refrigerator or the microwave.

• When camping, don't drink stream water. No matter how clear the water looks, it can still contain dangerous bacteria and other organisms.

• Don't buy or use food from dented, bulging or rusted cans. If you have a can with a dent on the seam, throw it away. Don't even open it.

Contaminated food may or may not smell, taste or look bad. Don't taste suspicious foods. Don't ask anyone else to taste it either.

Even a tiny amount of contaminated food can cause severe illness. If you have any doubt about the safety of the food, throw it out! Don't give possibly spoiled food to pets: They can get sick from bad food, too. Not even the most expensive food is worth a case of food poisoning, human or animal. Dispose of potentially tainted food by placing it down the garbage disposal or wrapping tightly and placing in the trash.